toolonglegs wrote:I was wondering abut dics versus deep dish... if you had say an 808 (or similar on the front). But for the rear had the choice of disc, 1080, 808 would there really be much difference?.Beauty of 808 on the rear is I could road race with it too and put a powertap in easily.Never looked at those Planet X wheels before...prices are fantastic.

I'm not an expert; however a disc is always considered fastest for the rear; even moreso in crosswinds due to the sail effect. The difference between an 808 or 1080 vs a disc would be minimal; however you'd need to weigh that up against other factors, eg using a PT hub, using them for road races etc. Either way, if you are going to spend the $ and use them for racing only, go for tubulars rather than clinchers.

Planet X are pretty big in the UK and have some amazing prices, whilst their wheels may not have the bling factor of Zipps, you can't go too wrong with a set of 101/82mm wheels for 399GBP ($600 Au)

If Alex S is reading this thread, i''m sure he could put forward a more definitive answer regarding aeroness of various wheels.

I was just thinking about time trials and realised that next weekend should be the Calga TT. I've never done a time trial before but considering going now, a few questions:

- Will everyone laugh at me if I ride a normal road bike with no aero gear - How easy is it to follow the course seeing as I've never ridden up there before- How hard is it to properly pace yourself, being pretty fit but on a normal road bike and never having done a TT before should I be aiming to maintain a certain speed?

AndrewBurns wrote:I was just thinking about time trials and realised that next weekend should be the Calga TT. I've never done a time trial before but considering going now, a few questions:

- Will everyone laugh at me if I ride a normal road bike with no aero gear - How easy is it to follow the course seeing as I've never ridden up there before- How hard is it to properly pace yourself, being pretty fit but on a normal road bike and never having done a TT before should I be aiming to maintain a certain speed?

No a fair few people go without aero go, though there are some good aero setups.

Very easy to follow just out and back (especially the 25km course)

It can be quite hard to pace yourself. My biggest bit of advice would be go out what you think is too easy for the first couple of kms. Trying to maintain a certain speed is dangerous especially on a lumpy course like calga.

AndrewBurns wrote:I was just thinking about time trials and realised that next weekend should be the Calga TT. I've never done a time trial before but considering going now, a few questions:

I've never been either, but have been thinking of training for TT's too, Calga, and have researched quite a bit here, and on google.

AndrewBurns wrote:- Will everyone laugh at me if I ride a normal road bike with no aero gear

From what I can tell, you won't be the only one without aero gear, so I doubt anyone will laugh. You can always turn their smile upside down by beating their time of course

AndrewBurns wrote:- How easy is it to follow the course seeing as I've never ridden up there before

I can't answer this, but it seems as though it would be pretty straight forward.

AndrewBurns wrote:- How hard is it to properly pace yourself, being pretty fit but on a normal road bike and never having done a TT before should I be aiming to maintain a certain speed?

I searched through here and noticed one of the guys that wins the 25km race posts here, and he basically says most go out harder than they should, and burn away a bit of what they'll need at the end. It's mainly uphill out, and mainly downhill back, so the hills might make it easier to pace yourself early. The last climb is about 3km from the end is supposed to kill you, so at least understand it's still coming when you think everything is going well 20km into it. Then it seems like all downhill to the finish, probably good to have some energy left to maintain a big speed from the top of that last hill. Here is the strava segment for the return run, so reverse this elevation for the ride out:http://app.strava.com/segments/1050314

AndrewBurns wrote:- Will everyone laugh at me if I ride a normal road bike with no aero gear

No, plenty ride without aero gear, it's a pretty relaxed atmosphere

AndrewBurns wrote:How easy is it to follow the course seeing as I've never ridden up there before

The 25km is easy, you just need to look out for the turnaround point. The 43km is a bit tricker, just after the 25km turnaround the road forks and you need to stay to the right, then at the turnaround there's an off/on ramp that you need to take/turnaround at - you might want to drive it first if you're doing this one.

As a rough guide to newer riders at TTs, you need to do a few to gain experience, pacing is a skill to be learned and refined over the years. It's a race against yourself and the clock. Forget about other's times.

If the first few minutes feels too easy, then that's about right (you simply do not feel how hard you are going until several minutes later). If the first few minutes feels hard, then you've way overblown it, big time.

When going up hills, go solidly but not all out, it should feel like you have just a little in reserve (in reality you will be going much harder than you are on flat terrain, it just doesn't feel that way). When cresting hills, keep the pressure on the pedals right on over the crest and as you gain speed down the other side. Lots of time can be made up this way.When going down slight declines, push really hard. It should feel harder than it does going up inclines (but you actually won't be going as hard really, it just feels that way).

Calga 25km (well it's a bit less than 25km) is an out and back course, usually there is an orange cone in the centre of the road for the U-Turn (often not manned) so you must take care to ensure no traffic/safe to turn. Helps to have a bike computer too so that you know after 12km to look for the turn point.

Alex Simmons/RST wrote:Calga 25km (well it's a bit less than 25km) is an out and back course, usually there is an orange cone in the centre of the road for the U-Turn (often not manned) so you must take care to ensure no traffic/safe to turn. Helps to have a bike computer too so that you know after 12km to look for the turn point.

They removed the cone last time I was there (which was a while ago about 9+months) as they council said they werent allowed to leave a nailed down cone there.

AndrewBurns wrote:I was just thinking about time trials and realised that next weekend should be the Calga TT. I've never done a time trial before but considering going now, a few questions:

- Will everyone laugh at me if I ride a normal road bike with no aero gear - How easy is it to follow the course seeing as I've never ridden up there before- How hard is it to properly pace yourself, being pretty fit but on a normal road bike and never having done a TT before should I be aiming to maintain a certain speed?

Andrew, treat the first go as a learning adventure. It will give you a baseline to beat next time

Check out the ATTA database by typing the surnames of some of the club members on this page, I'm there

finished my first calga tt and 2nd ever. no one said there were big hills there !. a 75km/h downhill speed was fun but going back up - well i had to change to the small chainring at the front !!ended up finishing in 39 minutes. definately went out too hard in hind sight, but felt ok at the time. really enjoyed racing the clock.

scotto wrote:finished my first calga tt and 2nd ever. no one said there were big hills there !. a 75km/h downhill speed was fun but going back up - well i had to change to the small chainring at the front !!ended up finishing in 39 minutes. definately went out too hard in hind sight, but felt ok at the time. really enjoyed racing the clock.